And for all her fiery words, she did want to get married and have a family – and sooner rather than later. If she could meet someone who… she sighed. Perhaps she was too picky.

No. As far as she was concerned, marriage was for life and she wasn’t getting into it until she knew the man was right for her.

The following week Megan took Friday off work and set out for Northumberland, humming as she drove along. She took it easy and was glad when she left the motorway.

This was an important trip. She’d decided to make changes and facing the ghosts from the past seemed the right first step to sort out her life. She’d lived in the north-east as a child and never been back since her parents were killed in an accident. But she remembered it. Oh, yes. And dreamed about it.

Just north of Newcastle the engine of her car coughed, faltered, then picked up again. She listened apprehensively, but nothing else happened, so she carried on.

As she left Morpeth behind, however, the car began to jerk and slow down. ‘Oh, no! Don’t do this to me!’ she begged, but the engine died completely and the car coasted gently to a halt by the side of the road.

She lifted the bonnet, but could see nothing obviously wrong. To her relief there was a garage a couple of hundred yards away, so she didn’t bother to ring for roadside assistance, but trudged towards it.

They were about to close, but towed her car in and the mechanic gave it a cursory examination. ‘Looks like a couple of hours’ work there. I can do it for you tomorrow afternoon.’

She stared at him in dismay. ‘Oh, no! I’m on holiday. I was going up to Alnwick.’

He shrugged. ‘I’d normally work late, but I’ve got an important family party to attend tonight in Newcastle. Look, if you want somewhere to stay, there’s a country house hotel just down the road. I can drop you and your luggage off there on my way home. Best I can offer.’

She didn’t have much choice, did she? Sighing, Megan collected her things from the car, feeling annoyed at how her precious weekend break was turning out.

If this had been a romance novel, the mechanic would have been a hunk and would have invited her out to dinner.

Life wasn’t like that. The man was fifty if he was a day, and rather chubby.

Pity.

Ben noticed the woman as she walked into Reception because she was radiating suppressed anger and looked magnificent. She had long, curly auburn hair cascading down her back, a vivid face and nice legs. His eyes lingered on the legs. Very nice.